What is ultrasonography?

Who performs ultrasound and where?

What is a sonographer?

What is a sonologist?

Point of Care (POC)

Occupation information

What should you study?

What does a future in ultrasound hold for you?

How to be successful in your career choice?

Overseas candidates

WHO

Depending on the specialty and purpose of an ultrasound scan there are several types of qualified persons who can perform an ultrasound in Australia and New Zealand as listed below:

• Sonographers: may obtain images which have value in the diagnosis and management of the patient by the medical team .

• Echocardiographers (cardiac sonographers): sonographers who perform cardiac ultrasound as a specialty.

• Medical practitioners: may perform their own ultrasound study or use the findings of the sonographer to determine appropriate treatment strategies for the patient. Sonographers working in private practice in Australia require an ASAR accredited qualification. In New Zealand sonographers are required to be registered with NZRTB.

WHERE

Ultrasound professionals can choose to work in clinics, hospitals, private practice physician offices, public health facilities, laboratories, and other medical settings performing examinations in their areas of specialisation. Career advancement opportunities exist in education, administration, research, and in commercial companies as education/application specialists, sales representatives, technical advisors, etc.

In Australia and New Zealand all Sonographers performing ultrasound scans are highly trained and skilled professionals.

Sonographers are the healthcare professionals with recognised qualifications in Australia (http://www.asar.com.au/qualifications.html) or New Zealand (http://www.unitec.ac.nz/?8C9461F6-62C2-4CAB-82E8-E2216356D2A2) who utilise their technical expertise, knowledge of human anatomy, and the physical principles of ultrasound to produce diagnostic images of the body.

Ultrasound is used to evaluate many parts of the body, including the abdomen, blood vessels, developing fetus, superficial body structures, heart, blood vessels, joints, muscle, and neonatal brains.  The sound waves used to obtain these images are at a frequency above the range of human hearing.  Sound waves are emitted from the transducer into the body and then return to the ultrasound machine where they are converted into an image.  The images are interpreted by a Radiologist who provides the medical diagnosis for the patient's physician.

Ultrasound is used to enhance treatment and investigate abnormalities in:
• Obstetrics
• Sports medicine
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Gynaecology

Sonographers have extensive, direct patient contact that may include performing some invasive procedures. They must be able to interact compassionately and effectively with people who range from healthy to critically ill.

The professional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Obtaining and recording an accurate patient history
• Performing diagnostic procedures and obtaining diagnostic images
• Analysing technical information
• Using independent judgment in recognising the need to extend the scope of the procedure according to the diagnostic findings
• Providing an oral or written summary of the technical findings to the physician for medical diagnosis
• Providing quality patient care
• Collaborating with physicians and other members of the health care team
• Continual professional development (CPD)
• Patient safety
• Evaluation of equipment
• Quality control

• Sonographer:
http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/default.asp?FunctionID=5050&ASCO=239111A

• Sonologist:
[More information to come]

• Radiographer: http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/default.asp?FunctionID=5050&ASCO=239113A

• Radiologist: http://www.myfuture.edu.au/services/default.asp?FunctionID=5050&ASCO=231225A

• Obstetrics & Gynaecology:
http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/occupations/m/medical-practitioner-obstetrician-and-gynaecologist-2312-17.htm

• Surgeons:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm#emply

• Physicians:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm#emply

Option 1:
I am a doctor/medical specialist to whom other medical practitioners refer patients for ultrasound examination and diagnosis. Are there any course(s) at ASUM available to me?

Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound (DDU)
For further information please visit: http://www.asum.com.au/site/qualifications.php?p=content-ddu

Option 2:
I am a student with a bachelor degree in a health related discipline, what course(s) at ASUM are available to me?

Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (DMU)
For further information please visit:
http://www.asum.com.au/site/qualifications.php?p=content-dmu

Option 3:
I am a student with an undergraduate degree in a health related discipline, what other courses are available to me?

ASAR accredited courses: http://www.asar.com.au/qualifications.html

Option 4:
I am a doctor/medical practitioner who wishes to use ultrasound in the treatment of my own patients. Are there any course(s) at ASUM available to me?

Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound (CCPU)
For further information please visit:
http://www.asum.com.au/site/qualifications.php?p=content-ccpu

For Sonographers:
Sonography is a dynamic profession that has grown significantly over the past 20 years. With rapidly developing new technologies and increased use of diagnostic ultrasound procedures, growth is projected to continue in the future with employment opportunities for qualified sonographers in both urban and rural areas nationwide.

Salaries vary depending on years of experience, number of certifications, and geographic location. 

Awards and pay rates:
Check with your relevant Government Department of Labour/workplace relation.

For Medical Practitioners:
Medical practitioners holding relevant qualifications who perform ultrasound scans will have a broader range of tools and skills to use in the diagnosis and treatment of their own patients.

For Medical Specialists:
Medical specialists who hold a recognised qualification will enable other medical practitioners to refer patients to them with confidence, knowing that they have the specialist skills to diagnose patients from ultrasound.

TESTIMONIALS

Mr Stephen Bird - DMU
Dr Lucia Pemble - DMU
Mrs Margo Gill - DMU

More testimonials to follow

Professional activity is characterised by a continual search for mastery in order to offer a service to one's patients and clients. Professional education is at the core of professionalism.

The goal of continuing professional education and development (CPED) is to provide practitioners with enhanced knowledge and skills to continue professional practice, and the
development of an increased sense of critical awareness.

ASUM's MOSSIP program is based on successful Australian and International models and has been developed in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, whose MOCOMP® program has run successfully for many years. It seeks to accredit those learning activities which members undertake in order to attain and maintain mastery in their field, and provide feedback to enable members to compare their CPD involvement with that of their peers.

MOSIPP Handbook

ASUM Meetings & Workshop
• Annual Scientific meeting (ASM)
• Multidisciplinary Workshop (MDW)
• Annual Congress
• Branch education meetings

Qualifcation recognition
To get your degree formally recognised as equivalent to Australian 3 year bachelor degree. Please go to www.dest.gov.au/noosr for details of this process.

Working and studying in Australia
- For professionals and other skilled workers seeking work or business in Australia and
- For people studying or seeking study, training, or skills development in Australia
Please go to http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration/ for details of this process.